Happy Labor Day! Labor Day marks the end of summer. And for many Connecticut students it means back to school. Here’s a little school law post for your holiday weekend.
Connecticut General Statutes Section 1-4 is one of the more interesting statutes on the books. Check this out:
When any such holiday, except holidays in January and December, occurs on a school day, each local and regional board of education may close the public schools under its jurisdiction for such day or hold a session of the public schools on such day, provided, if a session is held, the board shall require each school to hold a suitable nonsectarian educational program in observance of such holiday. If a holiday in January or December occurs on a school day, there shall be no session of the public schools on such day.
A local school board can decide to hold school on Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans’ Day, and Memorial Day so long as there is an educational program in observance of the holiday.
However, there can be no school on Martin Luther King Day and Christmas. Educational programs won’t suffice.
Why?
It’s an elaborate tap dance by our legislature to avoid the appearance of endorsing religion (yes, I know Christmas is a secular holiday) and at the same time insure school is not held on Christmas.
Have a wonderful school year and a happy and safe labor day.